Endocrine Diseases Flashcards
What is the aetiology of SIADH?
- Tumours:small cell carcinoma of lung= most common. also Prostate, thymus, pancreas
- Pulmonary lesions: pneumonia, TB
- Metabolic causes: Alcohol withdrawal
- CNS: Meningitis, tumours, head injury, subdural haematoma
- Drugs: Chlorpromide, carbamezapine etc
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of SIADH?
- Excess ADH release causes excess insertion of aquaporin 2 channels in apical membrane of collecting duct
- Therefore excess water retention and hyponatraemia
How is SIADH diagnosed?
- Low serum Na+, high urine Na+
- Euvolaemia: normal blood vol
- Low plasma osmolality, high urine osmolality
What are the signs + symptoms of SIADH?
- Symptoms due to hyponatraemia
- Varied and genetic
- Anorexia, nausea and malaise
- Weakness and aches
- Reduction in GCS and confusion with drowsiness
- Fits and coma if severe
How is SIADH treated?
- Treat underlying cause
- Restrict fluids to 500-1000ml daily
- Hypertonic saline if really symptomatic to prevent brain swelling
- Oral demeclocycline daily (Inhibits ADH)
- Vasopressin antagonist [ADH antagonist] e.g. oral tovaptan daily
- Salt and loop diuretic
Acute <48hrs = treat the hyponatraemia urgently to reduce risk of cerebral oedema
- Hypertonic saline 3%
Chronic >48hrs = slow and steady correction – max 10mmol/L/day
- Fluid restriction in mild to moderate cases
- ADH antagonists or demeclocycline in severe or symptomatic cases.
What is Conn’s syndrome?
Primary hyperaldosteronism= Excess production of aldosterone, independent of the renin-angiotensin system. Resulting in:
- increased sodium, and thus water retention
- increased blood pressure
- decreased renin release
What is the epidemiology of Conn’s syndrome?
Rare condition accounting for less than 1% of hypertension
What is the aetiology of Conn’s syndrome?
- 2/3rds= Adrenal adenoma that secretes aldosterone
- 1/3rd= Bilateral adeno-cortical hyperplasia
What are the risk factors for Conn’s syndrome?
- Middle aged adults
- Pts with family hx of early onset hypertension.
- Conventional antihypertensives don’t work
- Unusual symptoms e.g. sweating
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of Conn’s syndrome
- Excess aldosterone production due to aldosterone producing carcinoma
- Na+ and water retention, thus K+ loss (to balance charge
- Thus hypokalemia and hypertension
What is the clinical presentation of Conn’s syndrome?
- Often asymptomatic
- Hypertension due to increased blood vol, associated with renal, cardiac and retinal damage
- Hypokalaemia: Weakness, cramps, paraesthesia
How is Conn’s syndrome diagnosed?
- U+Es: hypokalaemia + hypernatraemia
- Plasma Aldosterone:Renin Ratio (ARR)= If increased aldosterone levels that are not suppressed w 0.9% saline infusion= Diagnostic
- low renin + raised aldosterone = primary hyperaldosteronism
- raised renin + raised aldosterone = secondary hyperaldosteronism
- CT or MRI on adrenal
- Hypokalaemic ECG= Flat T wave, ST depression, Long QT
How is Conn’s syndrome treated?
- Laproscopic adrenalectomy
- Aldosterone antagonist e.g. oral sprinolactone for 4 weeks pre-op to control BP and K+
What is gigantism?
Excessive GH production in children before fusion of the growth plates
What is acromegaly?
Excessive GH in adults
What is the aetiology of acromegaly?
- Most cases are due to benign GH producing pituitary adenoma
- rarely ectopic GH producing tumour e.g. pancreatic or lung tumours
What is the epidemiology of acromegaly?
Rare, increased incidence in middle age
What are the risk factors for acromegaly?
5% associated with MEN-1
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of acromegaly
- Increased GH due to pituitary tumour or ectopic carcinoid tumour
- Binds to receptors, resulting in increased IGF-1
- This stimulates skeletal muscle and soft tissue growth
- Local tumour expansion can also cause compression of the pituitary gland and bitemporal hemianopia
List some symptoms of acromegaly
- Increased size of hands and feet
- Prominent jaw
- Headaches
- Splayed teeth
- Enlarged tongue
- Excessive sweating
- Bitemporal hemianopia
- Snoring
- Wonky bite
- Weight gain
- Low libido
- irregular periods F and erectile dysfunction M
- Backache
List some signs of acromegaly
Skin darkening Fatigue Deep voice Carpal tunnel syndrome Macroglossia Coarsening face with wide nose Prognanthism and big supraorbital ridge
List some common co-morbidities with acromegaly
- Diabetes
- Sleep apnoea
- CVS Problems
- menstrual irregularities
- erectile dysfunction
How is acromegaly diagnosed?
- IGF1= Raised = Diagnostic
- Glucose tolerance test= No suppression of GH= Diagnostic/ Gold standard
- MRI of pituitary fossa
- Old photos= See changes
- Plasma GH levels= Can rule out acromegaly if random GH is undetectable or is low
- Pituitary function test: high prolactin in20% of pts
How is acromegaly treated?
- 1st line treatment= Trans-sphenoidal surgery to remove tumour and fix compression.
- 2nd line = Dopamine agonist e.g. Oral cabergoline or somatostatin analogues e.g. IM octreotide
- GH receptor antagonists if intolerant to SSA= Supresses IGF-1
- Stereotactic radiotherapy
What is the epidemiology of diabetes mellitus type 1?
Typically occurs in childhood
Increasing incidence
Common in Northern Europe
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of T1DM
- Absolute insulin deficiency caused by autoimmune destruction of the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans -> no insulin production + ↑ blood glucose
- Low blood glucose -> glucagon secretion which tells the liver to convert glycogen into glucose via glycogenolysis.
- the liver also converts lipids into glucose via gluconeogenesis
- overall result is even more hyperglycaemia.
What is the aetiology of T1DM?
Autoimmune against Beta cells - viral infection can trigger autoimmune response
Idiopathic
Genetic susceptibility - HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR4
What are the risk factors for T1DM?
- Family history
- Associated with OTHER autoimmune disease: thyroidisms, coeliacs, Addison’s, perncious anaemia
- Viral infection with enteroviruses
How is T1DM treated?
- insulin – basal bolus
- lifestyle advice on carb counting and diet + SICK days
- Basal bolus regimen = long acting dose OD or BD + rapid acting doses before meals
- Mixed insulin regimen: short/rapid acting + intermediate acting insulins mixed BD good for pts that don’t like multiple injections. Good for kids.
What are the complications of T1DM treatments?
Hypoglycaemia
Lipohypertrophy
Weight gain
What is the aim of T1DM treatment?
Aims to keep the blood sugar level as close to normal as possible to delay or prevent complications
What is the acute presentation of diabetes mellitus?
Young people (usually DMT1) often present in first 2-6 weeks with polyuria and nocturia, polydipsia and weight loss Patients may have ketonuria and breath smelling of ketones (Pear drops)
What is the subacute presentation of diabetes mellitus?
Occurs during first months-years
Typical triad of polyuria, polydipsia and weight loss but all are less marked
Also lack of energy, visual blurring, infections
What are the complications that can be the presenting features for diabetes mellitus?
- Staph. skin infection
- Retinopathy
- Polyneuropathy causing tingling and numbness in the feet
- Erectile dysfunction
- Arterial disease
- DKA
What would be the only clinical feature of asymptomatic diabetes mellitus?
Glycosuria/hyperglycaemia
What is the plasma glucose concentration that is diagnostic for diabetes mellitus (DMT1 usually)?
- Random plasma glucose >11.1 mmol/L
- Fasting plasma glucose >7 mmol/L
- Oral glucose tolerance test: >11mmol/L two hours after a 75g oral glucose load
- In symptomatic individuals, one result is diagnostic. -
- If there is only one positive, perform a oral glucose tolerance test (again >7 for fasting, and >11.1 for random)
What test can be performed for diabetes mellitus risk?
IGT (Impaired glucose tolerance)
What is the main test for DMT2?
HbA1c > 48
What is the epidemiology of hyperosmolar, hyperglycaemic state?
Patients present in middle/later life often with previously undiagnosed diabetes
What are the risk factors for hyperosmolar, hyperglycaemic state?
Infection= Most common cause
Myocardial infarction
Poor medication compliance
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of hyperosmolar, hyperglycaemic state?
- T2DM causes insulin resistance and relative deficiency -> hyperglycaemia -> osmotic diuresis: glucose loss in the urine and water follows
- This causes osmotic diuresis and hyperosmolarity -> polyuria, polydipsia, dehydration, confusion etc.
- Endogenous insulin levels are reduced but are still sufficient to inhibit hepatic ketogenesis but insufficient to inhibit hepatic glucose production
What is the clinical presentation of hyperosmolar, hyperglycaemic state?
- Severe dehydration
- Decreased consciousness
- Hyperglycaemia
- Hyperosmolality
- No ketones in blood/urine
- Stupor or coma
- Bicarbonate isn’t lowered + no acidosis
How is hyperosmolar, hyperglycaemic state diagnosed?
- Urine dipstick – glycosuria no ketones
- Bedside ketone and capillary glucose: hyperglycaemia ≥11mmol/l without significant ketonemia
- ABG or VBG = hyperglycaemia without metabolic acidosis
- Plasma osmolality is extremely high
- Total body K+ is low, but serum K+ is often raised
How is hyperosmolar, hyperglycaemic state treated?
Lower rate of insulin infusion
Fluid replacement with 0.9% saline
Restore electrolyte loss potassium replacement
Low molecular weight heparin (SC Enoxaparin) to reduce risk of thromboembolism, MI, stroke, and arterial thrombosis
What blood glucose level is classed as hypoglycamia?
- Plasma glucose <4 mmol/L
What is the aetiology of hypoglycamia?
- In diabetes= due to insulin or sulphonylurea treatment
- In non diabetes= Exogenous drugs, pituitary insufficiency, liver failure, Addison’s disease, Islet’s cell tumour, Non pancreatic neoplasm, burns, sepsis
What is the clinical presentation of hypoglycamia?
- Autonomic= Sweating, anxiety, hunger, tremor, palpitations, dizziness
- Neuroglycopenic= Confusion, drowsiness, visual trouble, seizures, coma
- Rarely, focal symptoms= Personality change, transient hemiplegia, mutism etc
How is hypoglycamia diagnosed?
- Fingerprick blood glucose= Shows hypoglycaemia,
- bloods: C peptide and ketones
- Take drug history and exclude liver failure
How is hypoglycamia treated?
Oral sugar and long acting starch
If pt is concsious
- Fast acting carb :Glucose tablets, gel or liquid or fruit juice. Then recheck blood glucoe after 10-15 mins.
- Long acting carb: once BG>4mmol/L – a meal if due or snack like bread or biscuits.
- IM glucagon or IV glucose: given if pt doesn’t respond to the fast acting glucose
If pt is unconscious
- IM glucagon first
- IV glucose: 10% or 20% solution
- Long acting carb: once BG >4mmol/L – a meal if due or snack like bread or biscuits.
What is the epidemiology of diabetic nephropathy?
Clinical nephropathy secondary to glomerular disease usually manifests 15-25yrs after diagnosis and affects 25-35% of patients diagnosed under age 30
What is the pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy?
Thickening of the basement membrane in glomerulus due to poor glycaemic control, which leads to micro-albuminuria
What are the risk factors for diabetic nephropathy?
Poor blood pressure and blood glucose control
How is diabetic nephropathy diagnosed?
- Urine albumin:creatinine ratio >3 will indicate micro albuminuria
- This may progress to intermittent albuminuria followed by persistent proteinuria
- Normochromic normocytic anaemia
- raised ESR
How is diabetic nephropathy treated?
- Aggressive treatment of high BP
- Reductions in insulin dosage as insulin sensitivities is increased
- Avoid drugs excreted via kidney
What is the epidemiology of diabetic neuropathy?
Affects 30-35% of patients with diabetes
What is the aetiology of diabetic neuropathy?
Isolated mononeuropathies are thought to be as a result of occlusion of the vasa nervorum. More diffuse neuropathies may arise from the accumulation of the fructose and sorbitol which disrupts the structure and function of the nerve
What are the risk factors of diabetic neuropathy?
Hypertension, Smoking, HbA1c, BMI
What are the clinical features of diabetic neuropathy?
- Pain: allodynia, burning etc
- Autonomic: Postural hypotension, gastroparesis, diarrhoea, constipation
- Insensitivities: Glove and stocking sensory loss
- Mononeuritis multiplex: damage to at least 2 different areas of the peripheral nervous system
- Diabetic amyotrophy
How is diabetic neuropathy treated?
- Good glycaemic control
- Treated with paracetamol
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Anticonvulsants - gabapentin, pregabalin
- Transcutaneous nerve stimulation
- Avoidance of weight bearing
What are the most common complications of diabetes?
- macrovascular = Stroke, MI, peripheral vascular disease, IHD, HF
- Microvascular complications= Diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy
- Diabetic foot ulceration
- Infection
What is the epidemiology of diabetic foot ulceration?
Foot ulceration occurs in 15% of people with DM
What is the pathophysiology of diabetic foot ulceration?
- Neuropathy results in increased risk of silent trauma of the foot.
- Furthermore, neuropathy results in autonomic features that results in increased skin dryness of foot, which is thus more susceptible to cracking and ulceration.